Kamal Thomas is in the spotlight following the tragic death of his girlfriend, Jamie Cail, in the Virgin Islands.
Jamie, a former swimmer, was found lifeless on the floor of their home on February 21, 2023. The investigative teams revealed Kamal’s identity as the deceased swimmer’s boyfriend, causing a stir among the public.
However, Kamal’s fame does not end there. He has a criminal past and was convicted of beating to death a tourist named James Cockayne, who was only 21 years old at the time.
This incident took place on St. John Island in 2007. Despite his initial conviction, Kamal fought the charges in court, and the conviction was eventually overturned.
Unsurprisingly, Kamal’s past has led to him being labeled a “bad boy.”
The media has painted a negative image of him and the public sees him as infected. Still, it’s important to remember that everyone deserves due process and should be judged based on their actions and not just their past.
As the investigation into Jamie’s death continues, Kamal’s past will surely come under scrutiny. It remains to be seen what role, if any, he played in her tragic demise. Until then, audiences will continue to watch this unfolding story with bated breath.
The murder case
Kamal Thomas has received a lot of attention as the boyfriend of the late Jamie Cail. However, his fame is not limited to his association with the former swimmer.
In 2007, Kamal was sentenced to ten years in prison after being involved in a violent altercation. This incident has earned him a reputation as someone not to be trifled with.
Kamal’s dark past has once again come to light, linking his name to the tragic death of Jamie Cail.
While the investigation is ongoing, Kamal’s name has been thrown into the limelight and people are curious to know more about him.
Kamal’s involvement in the 2007 brawl was an important event in his life. Together with three other men, he fought for years against the serious charges against him.
Although he was eventually convicted, Kamal never gave up the fight.
As the investigation into Jamie’s death continues, Kamal’s past comes under scrutiny. It is unclear what part he played in her untimely demise.
Nevertheless, Kamal’s name is making headlines and people are eager to learn more about him.
Despite dating for several years, Kamal and Jamie kept their relationship largely private. Initially his identity as Jamie’s friend was not revealed when she was found dead.
However, as the investigation progressed, his name eventually came to light.
Kamal Thomas arrested
According to sources, the friend of an American swimmer who was found dead in their home in the Virgin Islands has been jailed for 10 years after a violent brawl in 2007.
Jamie Cail, 42, was not found around midnight on February 21, after which police launched a criminal investigation.
Sources confirmed that her boyfriend is the ‘bad boy’ Kamal Thomas, 34, who discovered her home after coming home from the pub.
Thomas fought the serious allegations for years after he and three other men assaulted 21-year-old James Cockayne hours before his death.
The lawsuit
In a statement, Cockayne’s mother Kamal described Thomas as “bad to the bone.” A convicted felon, Thomas had previously been accused of assaulting James Cockayne, a tourist who visited the island in 2007.
Initially, Thomas was found guilty of two counts of third-degree assault and related weapons charges.
However, his conviction was overturned in 2008 because a key piece of evidence was not revealed by prosecutors during the trial.
After a second trial in 2010, Thomas was found guilty of third-degree assault, simple assault, gun charges and threatening a witness.
The VI Daily News reported that he was sentenced to ten years in prison, with two years suspended, and was also fined $11,750 for his crimes.
Anselmo Boston, charged with Thomas, was also found guilty of the same charges, while Jamil Ward was convicted of second-degree murder, assault and weapons charges.
According to reports, the decorated swimmer was discovered lying on the floor of her partner’s home on St John Island and was immediately taken to the Myrah Keating-Smith Clinic, where hospital staff performed CPR upon her arrival. Despite their best efforts, Cail went into cardiac arrest and died in the early hours of the morning.
Authorities were notified of the case and an autopsy was performed to determine the cause of death. Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department are investigating the case, but the VIPD is not giving any further details to the media.
Cail’s family and friends are in shock and mourn her sudden death. Friends shared cryptic messages about her passing, describing her as a wonderful person and friend and demanding justice for her. However, no arrests have been made so far.
Some reports also pointed to Cail’s attempt to escape an abusive relationship, but the circumstances of her death remain unclear.
Jean Cockayne’s frustration with justice in Virginia
Jean Cockayne was first informed of Jamie Cail’s death by a St. John resident who knew about the police investigation. For the Cockayne family, the pain of their son’s death is compounded by the difficulty of seeking justice.
In an interview with DailyMail.com, Jean Cockayne expressed her frustration with the lack of justice in the Virgin Islands and stated that people are afraid to speak out because of possible repercussions.
She believes that the police are not taking appropriate action because of the tight-knit community and the importance of tourism dollars.
Jean and her family’s experience seeking justice for her son’s death was complicated and drawn out, with frequent hearings every six months.
She thinks it’s ridiculous that someone who killed another person has so many parole hearings and suggests that the Virgin Islands operate like a “cowboy country.”
Jean feels terrible for Jamie Cail’s family and hopes her boyfriend, Kamal Thomas, will be brought to justice.
She describes him as “bad to the bone” and a bad person who is a danger to others. She urges people to come forward and speak out to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Jean expresses sympathy for Jamie Cail and acknowledges that she was an extraordinary young woman who made some bad choices with men. She wishes she had done better to lock up Kamal Thomas and hopes that justice will be served this time.
Who was Jamie Cail?
The celebrated swimmer, who previously represented the University of Maine, was employed at a local coffee shop and bookstore in St. John.
The community was devastated by her passing and expressed their sympathy by leaving touching tributes and floral arrangements outside the store.
Originally from Claremont, New Hampshire, Cail was a gifted athlete and competed extensively throughout the US during her childhood.
A friend of hers shared with WMUR that she was a kind, loving person with a heart of gold and that she was highly regarded and loved by everyone on the island.
Cail’s impressive swimming career included winning a gold medal at the 1997 Pan Pacific Championships and a silver medal at the 1998-1999 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Brazil.
She trained at the prestigious Bolles School in Jackson, Florida, setting records in several categories for the 15-16 age group.
Despite being a talented swimmer, she also won several high school state championships in Huntington Beach, where she moved to train at the Golden West Swim Club in California. In addition to her athletic achievements, Cail swam in college at USC.
Her untimely death in 2023 was reported by VIPD, who are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.
tidbits
- Jamie Cail was a passionate advocate for ocean conservation and had been involved in numerous beach clean-up projects on St. John, where she lived over the years.
- In addition to her swimming achievements, Cail was also a talented musician and often performed at local venues in St. John, playing guitar and singing folk songs.
- Before moving to St. John, Cail lived in Maine, where she worked as a swim coach and taught swimming to children.
- Cail was also an avid hiker and had completed several challenging trails on the island, including the Reef Bay Trail and the Ram Head Trail.
- In her spare time, Cail enjoys writing and had recently completed a children’s book about a group of sea creatures who work together to clean up their ocean home.
- Cail’s family and friends have established a scholarship fund in her name to support young swimmers who share her passion for the sport.
- Cail planned to compete in the St. John Beach Swim Race, an annual event that takes place in the crystal clear waters of Trunk Bay just a few weeks before her untimely death.
- Despite her success as a swimmer, Cail had struggled with anxiety and depression throughout her life and had been open about her mental health issues, advocating for greater access to mental health care in the community.
